"As King of the Ryugu Kingdom, and representing all fish-men denied the right to simply exist in this world, I, Neptune, hereby declare to the armed forces currently occupying the Ryugu Kingdom:"
"Our citizens endured these past days of barbaric occupation, believing it temporary—a means to resolve the situation! Yet your forces, rather than improving matters, have only spread chaos further. You even eliminated your own representative during negotiations!"
"This morning, we finally made progress through discussions with the Celestial Dragons under our protection, taking a step toward resolution!"
"But you ignored the declaration that Saints Pluming and others courageously signed! Instead, you pointlessly executed your own soldiers and continued tightening your encirclement! I declare: you have degenerated into bandits beyond all reason!"
"Dialogue has failed! To protect our citizens, we shall answer your repeated atrocities with gunfire!"
"The Ryugu Kingdom hereby formally declares war on the armed forces conducting unlawful occupation and pillaging!"
A declaration the Marines couldn't refute—and morale plummeted further across all units.
If this weren't the ocean floor but some vast island, the military would have collapsed already.
"Do you understand?! At this rate, we'll either be killed by the Celestial Dragons or slaughtered by the fish-men!"
"...Ha."
Meanwhile, the woman ordered to command by the Celestial Dragons could only panic, unable even to grasp the situation.
No—she understood it was hopeless, making her far more aware than the Celestial Dragons themselves.
A man around thirty, wearing an officer's coat but still uncomfortable in uniform, stood at attention silently enduring the woman's abuse—not orders, just verbal abuse.
"Forgive me, but couldn't we have accepted Saint Pluming's earlier proposal?"
"Those who argued that were executed on orders—have you forgotten already?!"
—How dare they take such absurdity seriously!
—I ordered you to capture fish-men and rescue the imprisoned Celestial Dragons!!
—B-but the proposal bears Saints Pluming and others' signatures, seals, even fingerprints!
—This is our perfect opportunity to protect all the Celestial Dragons safely! Please!
—Silence! Everything burned—all the furnishings and slaves I spent so much money gathering in the Holy Land! The mansion covered in soot!
—I came to recover my losses, and you expect me to return empty-handed?!
—I ordered you to rescue Saints Pluming and others, yet you lost, then brought back incomprehensible documents!
—Take them away!
—Execute them quickly and advance the troops!!!
The glimpse of hope transformed into inescapable despair.
Disobey and face execution—but surrender? The enemy is fish-men.
A species humans have oppressed endlessly, whom they're currently attacking to enslave.
Moreover, they've trampled the political solution the enemy prepared and are tightening the noose.
Even with that pirate involved, what happens to Marine soldiers—as opposed to ordinary humans—needs no imagination.
"Ugh! This should've been simple—grab some fish-men, brand them, and go home! Why has it gotten this complicated?!"
The government woman's utterly selfish outburst draws cold stares from the officer and the young female soldier beside him.
The relationship between government and Marines that Black Cat tried reconnecting had frozen solid over this past month.
Especially now that even those unaware of the Marine slave incident knew the truth.
"Anyway, at this point we just have to win. ...Right, they're the ones who declared war..."
Her normally neat hair disheveled from frantic scratching, the woman called Moira muttered to herself, exhaustion clearly visible.
The allure she'd had while accompanying Special Rear Admiral Skipper had faded, shadows falling across her beauty.
"Prepare to attack immediately! Right now!!"
Her cornered, shrieking figure held traces of madness.
"We vastly outnumber them! Plus Saints Pluming and the others are safer than before! Right?!"
Normally she'd have no command authority, but multiple misfortunes pushed her into this bizarre position. The officer nods at her words.
What she's saying isn't wrong, strictly speaking.
"I'll handle the Celestial Dragons' tempers, so you people devise winning strategies immediately!"
"Right now!!!"
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"That vixen demands the impossible...!"
"Yes. ...But given our position as Marines, it's somewhat unavoidable."
The strategy room held those with relatively long service records among remaining officers, or those with excellent academy grades—hastily assembled.
The two who'd endured Moira's abuse had joined this group for strategy planning.
"We outnumber them? Nonsense! The Black Cat has repeatedly overcome overwhelming odds—and now he's sided with the fish-men!"
"At the Holy Land, he reversed not just numerical superiority but dozens of times our forces with near-immortal zombie characteristics—with a single strategy... Now he's joined the fish-man forces and gained backing from the Celestial Dragons on their side. Fighting this is insane."
"Damn it, we should've just lost in the earlier battle. Then..."
Impossible weakness for a military organization—shared among those holding officer positions.
This alone shows how abnormal the situation has become.
"...But Miss Moira isn't entirely wrong."
One who'd been listening to their complaints spoke—a young female Marine with light brown skin and blonde hair with blue streaks.
"Corporal Mercedes."
"As in the previous battle, even the Black Cat cannot fully utilize his abilities on this battlefield."
Her rank is low, yet she holds considerable influence here.
During the earlier engagement, anticipating potential stalemate, she'd proposed assigning low-morale soldiers to the encirclement for defensive positions—minimizing casualties.
"The major difference on this battlefield compared to previous Black Cat engagements: he has almost no soldiers who truly trust and follow his commands."
The corporal called Mercedes continued while examining maps showing Fish-Man District and the enemy's defensive position as accurately as possible.
"Seeing how fish-men destroyed the ships, they clearly aren't following the Black Cat's orders."
"This delay wasn't Black Cat's intention?"
"Correct. Black Cat's good nature is evident from his actions. He always uses force to resolve situations."
If the ships weren't destroyed and Black Cat could properly threaten the Celestial Dragons, they might be retreating by now.
Several officers regretted this hadn't happened—that they should've sortied to protect the ships despite orders to heavily guard the Celestial Dragons.
"Today's declaration reveals this as well. The Ryugu Kingdom used 'armed forces' rather than 'Marines.'"
"...Meaning what, exactly?"
"They're providing us—and the government—an escape route."
The girl's small sigh overlapped with heavy sighs and groans from those who'd grasped the declaration's meaning.
"They formally declared war while obscuring specifics by not using precise names. Black Cat likely arranged this to avoid political complications during eventual resolution."
"Why? Wouldn't naming and condemning the Marines give them advantage?"
Several nod at the most veteran officer's words.
Everyone here understood their actions were wrong—only wrong.
But the girl shakes her head.
"Politically, they already hold overwhelming advantage. Or rather, the government has fumbled catastrophically..."
"Guh... Calling it 'fumbles' hardly suffices. ...Those bastards."
"My apologies. I couldn't think of better words. ...Regardless, despite fumbles being massive with all fault lying with government, revealing everything would likely drive the government to even harsher measures."
"...Beyond currently trying to conquer this island, what more could there be?"
"For instance... denying fish-men as a species."
The girl's words silence the room instantly—previously buzzing with government complaints.
"Those who oppressed fish-men were precisely the government, ourselves, and humanity. In fact, they currently overlook calling human trafficking centers 'employment agencies'—"
"Corporal Mercedes!"
"It's the truth."
The youngest soldier's words silence the officers.
A fact every Marine at Headquarters knew but ignored.
That fact now bares its fangs at the Marines.
"And among them, fish-men—especially mermaids—trade for enormous sums. A single government declaration stripping fish-men of human rights could trigger worldwide fish-man hunting again."
"...The government would do that?"
"The government is already cornered. Nobody noticed the foundation's fragility. That caused the Marine slave incident, followed by Celestial Dragon rampages after the Holy Land attack, rebellions everywhere..."
Everyone here is, naturally, Marines.
Thus they knew well how much hell had erupted everywhere before departing for Fish-Man Island.
"Worst case, the government might attempt massacre-like actions again to make everything disappear."
"If they order such atrocities, we'll finally rebel against the government!"
"...Yes. That's precisely why the government frantically began building independent military forces."
The Marine organization itself is becoming troublesome to every faction—including government.
Meaning they're being viewed as enemies by everyone.
The future seems impossibly dark and hopeless, yet the Marines must break through here first—not allowed to give up.
"Returning to topic: Black Cat clearly desires resolution, but to achieve that, he must handle unpredictable fish-man forces."
"Meaning—"
"I can't stand on the front lines this time."
Around the same time, having finished the declaration and rough assault unit organization, the pirate gathered unit commanders to explain strategy.
"Our fighting spirit surpasses theirs—a major advantage. But like the previous battle, it might unexpectedly shift the situation."
Some fish-men look uncomfortable at the pirate's words, but he continues without concern.
"The Marines are cornered—by their own people, no less. Meaning they'll deploy encirclement forces left behind last time. Total war."
Currently, this ship's deck—the highest position—holds cannons plundered using fish-men's superhuman strength during the previous battle's retreat.
"But focusing purely on defense guarantees our defeat. Why?"
"Whether annihilating or escaping, fish-man forces can't find openings without attacking."
Everyone silently listens to the youngest Marine girl's words.
Why?
Because since late last year, she'd become a particularly outstanding officer candidate who'd caught up to tactics used by a certain pirate—Black Cat—in war games based on his actual battles, now used for officer training.
"Individual unit morale is low, but sheer troop numbers and supporting equipment vastly favor us."
"But scouts report the fish-man army lined cannons along both sides of the ship. Isn't that purely defensive preparation?"
"If focusing on defense, concentrating limited cannons toward our thickest troop concentration makes more sense than spreading them omnidirectionally—dedicating to field artillery."
The girl places a chess piece—a black king—on the ship drawn on the map, surrounding it with black pawns.
"The enemy fears numbers. But above all—"
"They'll consider our range most dangerous."
"Worst case: getting surrounded and ground down by firepower."
The pirate produces shogi pieces he'd carved himself for playing with Hina while practicing tactics.
He lines up pieces representing infantry on the enemy side, continuing his explanation.
"They vastly outnumber us in troops and equipment. Meaning continuous bombardment while surrounded would easily scatter our soldiers. We've plundered considerable shells and gunpowder, but naturally they have more total."
The fish-men who'd lost many comrades to Marine gunfire uniformly pale.
Some realize: if they hadn't destroyed the ships and let the Celestial Dragons escape to sea, this situation wouldn't exist.
"So we'll mass our troops and narrow the bombardment range. Then I can kick shells away from high ground before they land."
"That accounts for guarding against teams targeting the Celestial Dragons while commanding overall," someone murmurs at the pirate's addition.
"Then the cannons we're lining up now?"
"To maximize range during interception. The enemy will definitely advance en masse. We've devised strategies to thin the encirclement, but each direction will still require some engagement. Then former slaves who can't join melee, just-rescued civilian fish-men, plus Marine units with training experience will fire cannons to reduce attack pressure."
Li Ling's mermaid group, Marines, and former slaves nod firmly at his assurance they won't be caught up if they don't overextend.
Morale is high among everyone given roles when they'd thought themselves useless.
Especially former slaves and those formerly imprisoned—directly victimized.
"...Kuro, I understand why you're staying back. That said, no objections to following your commands."
At the long-nosed fish-man's words, those assigned unit command nod.
At least the fish-men here—plus Marines, former slaves, and drifters—recognized the pirate boy as worthy of supreme command.
"So how do we move?"
"Simple."
The pirate boy inhales briefly—
'In this situation, pirates have only one tactical option.'
—One objective! Silence the primary reason this war continues!!
'Form assault units centered on physically superior fish-man forces. Target—'
—Restrain enemy Celestial Dragons! Eliminate factors obstructing Marine withdrawal!!
'Then enemy tactics will be simple yet hard to counter. Namely, our defensive line's—'
—Therefore: assault tactics! Break through enemy center!!!
'Units assume defensive positions. If successful, we'll severely reduce their forces.'
—Strike before enemy artillery repositions! All hands, prepare to charge!!
The Marines accurately read the pirate's aim.
The pirate read that the Marines had noticed.
And exactly fifteen minutes later:
Both armies clashed again.
The First Fish-Man Island Battle entered its second half.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"The seas have been navigable for quite some time now... Rayleigh, how much longer to Fish-Man Island?"
"Let's see... if the wind keeps up, roughly ten days."
"Knew it'd take time. Can't we shorten it?"
"Ha ha ha! Sorry for the boring journey, Miss Perona. I'm choosing the safest routes possible."
An impossible route normally.
Just crossing it means a huge, unfavorable gamble—passing through the Calm Belt from the West Blue. On deck, a diverse group of different ages and genders watches the sea.
"Tch, can't be helped. ...Still, we really entered the Grand Line, huh?"
The youngest among them—actually a little girl—watches her compass spin aimlessly without pointing anywhere, sighing.
"Is it frightening?"
"Horo horo horo. With you, Hancock, Crocodile, plus Amis and Huck's group, nothing's scary. More importantly—"
Being near the Red Line, the sea had been quite rough until recently but has now calmed.
While handling watch duty with her Ghost ability during this brief respite, Perona sips cocoa prepared by her bodyguards and exhales softly.
"I thought when I first entered here, Kuro and Daz would be with me too."
Among the upstart Black Cat Pirates, a special group—the founding four.
Originally three raised their flag together, planning to enter the Grand Line—so Perona has feelings about this unexpected, irregular side-path entry.
"Ha ha ha! Well... I understand that feeling."
The elderly man drinking calmly even during violent seas—the Pirate King's right hand, Silvers Rayleigh—continues downing his drink, smiling at the wanted girl still young enough to call a child.
"Kuro surely feels the same. He was looking forward to stabilizing the West Blue and entering the Grand Line."
"...Come to think of it, he kept rereading Grand Line island information obtained from the Marines, taking all kinds of notes."
Various Kuro-penned plans repeatedly targeted since his West Blue days.
Perona had protected them from people moving oddly similar to Kuro and some Marines trying to investigate—protecting them all along.
She's currently entrusted the rougher drafts to Robin and Mihawk.
"But liberating the Grand Line... Ha ha ha ha ha! Does he understand what that means?"
"Who knows. He's sharp but views the world from slightly skewed perspectives."
Once seas roughen again, leisurely drinking becomes impossible.
Refusing to waste precious rest, Perona sips her cocoa again enjoying the sweetness, wearing a rare vacant expression:
"He probably didn't realize it's a plan the World Government might desperately try crushing?"
"Wa ha ha ha ha! That makes him quite the big shot!!"
Not participating in conversation but working on deck, Huck's group and the bodyguards chuckle quietly.
"Well, Fish-Man Island comes first now. Seas calmed nicely but the wind stopped too."
"That's pure luck. Worried?"
"...If Kuro were alone, no worries needed. He's strong, plus not stupid enough to misjudge when to flee, but—"
Perona's face clouds slightly as Hancock approaches carrying an empty wooden crate, sitting beside her using it as a chair.
"Indeed. Judging from that transmission, Hina is at Master's side as well. He might push himself somewhat to protect Hina and other soldiers."
"Even slight pushing from him eventually means diving into infernos."
"Even during war?"
"He didn't abandon Mopuchu despite zero benefits back then. When Germa attacked."
"...True enough."
"Nowadays there's decent harvest, but honestly newly-conquered Canet was more—wait, something's approaching. Nine o'clock!"
At her words, bodyguards swiftly turn that direction, hands on sword hilts, ready.
Fish-men clench fists; soldiers secure positions for potential naval combat.
"Miss Perona, from the sea?"
"Yeah, probably a pirate ship. Distance approximately 15 kilo—did they notice?! Something's flying straight at us!! Count: one! Fast!!"
Hancock stands with force enough to topple her crate.
"Prepare for defense! Amis!!"
"Yes! Bodyguards, forward!!"
A soldier vigorously rings the emergency bell.
Hearing it, Sandersonia, Galdino, Crocodile, and others emerge from below.
Naturally armed.
"Incoming!"
It lands on deck with a roar.
To those with exceptional dynamic vision, what looked like a giant bird transforms into a man wreathed in blue flames.
Seeing him, Hancock intensifies caution. The bodyguards too.
"Even rushing, if a pirate ship carrying fish-men passes nearby, figured I should check just in case, but..."
Meanwhile Crocodile murmurs "Oh?" with interest—
"Why the hell are you here?!"
And Rayleigh roared with laughter.
"The Dark King!!!"
Laughed even harder, drink flowing freely.
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Well now, what they call coincidence! And fortunate too—having you join makes things easier!!"
A man with pineapple-styled orange-blonde hair, anchor-like mark tattooed on his chest in obvious pirate fashion—Rayleigh drank with his shouting as accompaniment.
"We're also in a hurry. Guide us to Fish-Man Island."
"—Whitebeard Pirates First Division Commander."
"'Phoenix' Marco."
***
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